UMass Law

General information

Introduction.

The University of Massachusetts School of Law—Dartmouth was established in 2010 as the state of Massachusetts' first and only public law school. UMass Law is committed to increasing access to legal education for students from underrepresented communities and to improving the quality and reach of justice through the work of its practice-ready graduates and the engaged scholarship of its faculty.

UMass Law is at the leading edge of preparing students for the legal profession by reshaping legal education with a focus on expanding academic, experiential and career opportunities. The School requires and guarantees that students participate in an internship or clinic, and it requires each student to complete 30 hours of pro bono service under the supervision of a licensed attorney. Our graduates are creative, competent, confident and committed, justice-centered lawyers.

UMass Law has a dedicated faculty of scholar-practitioners, and vibrant relationships with the bench and bar. There is a collegial atmosphere among faculty and students that is fostered at the School, from classroom discussions to individual conversations to strong mentorship relationships.

Located on the SouthCoast of Massachusetts on 8.5 wooded acres in Dartmouth, the campus is about a 30-mile drive from Providence, RI, and a 60-mile drive from Boston. The Law School is approximately two miles from the main campus of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The contemporary facility is a technology-rich, with a welcoming lobby and a moot courtroom that serves as a central gathering space not only for our students, but also for the bench and bar. The library offers well-lit comfortable workspaces, ample hard copy collection, and extensive online databases and technology.

Faculty

The UMass Law faculty are passionate about teaching. They research, analyze, write and publish on a broad spectrum of legal issues, precedents and outcomes to make a difference in the quality of justice provided. They are practiced lawyers, gifted teachers, supportive mentors and respected scholars who are working to prepare, mentor and launch the next generation of legal professionals.

Our faculty have expertise in numerous areas including: immigration law, constitutional law, criminal law, corporate law, commercial law, privacy law, bankruptcy law, family law, intellectual property law, cyber law and international law.

Curriculum

UMass Law’s curriculum is comprehensive, insuring that students learn the principles of the law and the complex theoretical frameworks that comprise the core of legal knowledge. Our courses provide a solid foundation in all areas of the law in addition to offering opportunities to specialize.
In the first year, courses set the groundwork, teaching the foundations of the legal system. Comprehensive support for students begins at orientation, and one-on-one support is available throughout the educational experience from peer tutors, academic success professionals, and professors committed to each student’s success.

In the second and third years, the core requirements are complemented by courses that are of personal interest. The UMass program requires 15 credits of practice courses that leverage simulated and real-life lawyering experience to prepare our students for the profession. Students in their third year take a for-credit bar success course their last semester, receiving support throughout their bar preparations.

The Law School offers two joint degree programs JD/MBA, and JD/MPP. Applicants interested in the joint degree must apply for each program in addition to their law school application.

Clinics, Internships and Pro Bono Service

Our commitment to preparing students for the practice of law is evidenced in our clinics: Immigration, Community Development, Legal Services, and Tribal Court, Career Services Office, pro bono requirement, and our rich field placement program. This commitment is also demonstrated by the requirement that each student complete 30 hours of pro bono service under the supervision of a licensed attorney.

The Law School has two on-site clinics, the Immigration Clinic and the Community Development Clinic. We also have several hybrid clinics that are the result of partnerships with other legal organizations such as South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Mashpee Wampanoag Legal Services Clinic and the Criminal Prosecution Clinic. Participation in the clinics is intended to help students develop skills, values and habits that will enable them to help clients.

Our Field Placement Program (Internships and Externships) affords students the opportunity to work under the supervision of a practicing attorney or judge to gain practical skills in a real-world setting. Students participating in a field placement attend in weekly seminars to discuss their experiences and focus on various ethical issues encountered in practice.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Admissions decisions are made on the basis of the student’s academic record, LSAT and writing sample, personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume, extracurricular activities and other information in a file. Additionally, the Admissions Committee looks beyond the academic indicators and evaluates each candidate on the basis of their civic engagement, commitment to the study of law, professionalism, and diversity both seen and unseen. The Committee is looking for qualities that will enhance the diversity of our student body and enrich the educational environment and the legal profession. In addition to the application, two letters of recommendation are required. An applicant coming directly from an undergraduate experience must have one of the letters be from professor. The Law School works on a semester basis only offering three programs of study: full-time day, part-time day, and part-time evening/weekends.

UMass Law is committed to helping students successfully finance their legal education. Our affordable tuition for residents and nonresidents affords students the opportunity to attend law school without amassing large debt. To help offset the cost of tuition the Law Schools offers scholarships based on academic merit and on need.

Career Services

Our Career Services Office helps students leverage experience and connections developed in pro bono service, field placements, and internships, and schedules a rich array of panels, networking, and mentoring opportunities. Each student receives intensive individualized career counseling, enabling students to take maximum advantage of on-site interviews and a rich database of job opportunities.

Public Interest Law Fellowship

The Public Interest Law Fellowship Program offers a comprehensive, integrated program designed to train students for careers in public service. Fellows receive a 50 percent scholarship for both tuition and fees in exchange for a commitment to practice public interest law for four years upon graduation.

Public Interest Fellows make a substantial commitment over and above the Law School requirement to perform pro bono work. In addition, they undertake internships in public interest and governmental settings. This program offers specialized counseling, frequent exposure to public interest lawyers and numerous opportunities for "hands on" experience.
Each year the Law School awards approximately 20 fellowships to incoming students based on their past experience working in the public sector and their continued commitment to public interest/public service law.

Student Life and Professional Development

The rich diversity of the UMass Law student body is reflected in the cocurricular life of the law school. Student organizations include: The Student Bar Association, BALSA, International Law Society, The Federalist Society, Outlaw, APALSA, LALSA, Legal Association of Woman, Delta Theta Pi, the Law Review and Moot Court. The student organizations, the faculty, the Public Interest Law Fellowship Program and the Career Planning Office organize and present various symposiums and panels throughout the year. Every year UMass Law students participate in Moot Court and Trial Practice competitions regionally and throughout the country.